Coil grinding equipment



w. K. LOWE COIL GRINDING EQUIPMENT Oct. 7, 1952 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1950 E W To ML V WK .5 C A L M W (Judy A051,: A 1

00b7, 1952 w. K. LOWE 23612;730

COIL GRINDING EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 15, 1950 I ll Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. WA| Ac,E K. Lows.

Oct 7, 1952 w. K. LOWE COILGRINDING EQUIPMENT 1]. Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 15, 1950 a w 0 ..L K E C ,A M W ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 7, 1952 w. K. LOWE COIL GRINDING EQUIPMENT l1 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 15, 1950 INVENTOR. WALLACE K LOWE.

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Oct. 7, 1952 w. K. LOWE 2,612,730

COIL. GRINDING EQUIPMENT myVALLAcE K. LOWE.

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m ATTORNEYS- Oct. 7, 1952 w.- K. LOWE 2,612,730

COIL- GRINDING EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 15, 1950 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 llllftw, N

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ATTORNEYS 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 w. K. LOWE COIL GRINDING EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 15, 1950 m 5 mm km W M M E E a h, m M H A w WY T L B v i w 4 Maw vwv N% Oct. 7, 1952 w. K. LOWE COIL GRINDING EQUIPMENT 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Sept. 15, 1950 YWALLACE K. Lpwg.

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Oct. 7, 1952 w. K. LOWE CDIL GRINDING EQUIPMENT ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Sept. 15, 1950 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS.

the machine.

latented Oct. 7, 1952 UNITED STATES 2,612,730 COIL GRINDING EQUIPMENT Wallace K. Lowe, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Crucible Steel Company of America, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 15, 1950, Serial No. 184,944

6 Claims.

1 The invention relates to grinding and polishing machines, and more particularly to such machines wherein an abrasive tool is simultaneously rotated about its axis and revolved about.

the work in pressure engagement therewith.

Apparatus have been suggested in the past for grinding and polishing workpieces including wire stock having in combination a rotatable supporting head which mounts a grinding wheel, the supporting head having an axially extending passage therethrough for the wire stock. The supporting head is rotated about the wire stock and the grinding wheel is revolved in planetary movement t'hereabout at the same time, thegrinding wheel, of course, being in operative engagement therewith. In such apparatus here,- tofore proposed, work holding or work rest members have been mounted in flxed relation with said supporting head in close proximity thereto for maintaining the wire stock against lateral displacement and to. urge same against the grinding wheel, there being suitable means for moving said work holding member towards the grinding wheel whereby the wire stock can be maintained in engagement with the grinding wheel as the latter wears away. In addition to said single supporting head and grinding wheel mounted thereupon, it has been normal practice to employ one additional supporting head and grinding wheel, the two being mounted upon a main supporting shaft which is rotated by a common power means whereby the two supporting heads are rotated simultaneously with the wire stock passing axially through said m-ain supporting shaft from an outlet reel onto a suitable wind-up reel. The first grinding wheel normally performs a roughing operation and the second a finishing operation. There have been In setting in operation such a grinding and polishing machine thereof, of course, is a necessity for threading the wire stock through the machine from the outlet reel. In the past this has been a tedious and time consuming operation which hasnecessitated the manual threading of the wire through the narrow passage of In many instances this causes undue delay in the operation of the apparatus.

. 2 Suitable means have not been heretofore sug.-, gested for assisting in urging the wire stock through the machine.

Furthermore in the threading of a machine of this type in the past, the means which have been used heretofore for urging the initial extremity of the wire through the machine have not been under the control of adequate govern ing devices which facilitate the work of the machine operator. For example, in a machine of this character there is a substantial distance between the extremities thereof and an operator workingat one extremity may be forced H to return to the opposite extremity, for example, in order to disengage the power means for forc-. ing the initial end of the wire through the machine. Thus in the past two men have been required to load or thread the machine.- This has been believed an excessive number, there being in fact the necessity for only one man to accomplish this purpose.

Also in apparatus of this type heretofore suggested the planetary grinding wheels have, of course, been subject to a substantial wear and after a reasonable period of time it is necessary to dress such wheels. This has been done in the past by opening a protective hood for such wheels, stopping the supporting rotating head therefor and manually dressingthe grin-d ing wheel with the supporting head so arrested. This operation usually requires a coolant fluid and such dressing operation has been accomplished only with great inconvenience because of the splashing and lack of control of I the coolant fluid. Furthermore there is a sub.- stantial safety hazard in so dressing the grinding wheels because of flying bits of steel or abra- .of a grinding and polishing machine of this character. v

"Another o-bject of the invention is to provide improved and novel means forthreading the end of a piece of wire stock through the apparatus.

An additional object is to provide novel means? for controlling the grinding wheel dressing elements in conjunction with a suitable housing fior containing the planetary elements whereby'there is no loss of control of the coolant fluid used in such dressing.

Another object is to a provide a power driven pinch or threading rolls which can be pneumatically operated by manual control from each extremity of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a complete selfenclosed hood for each grinding wheel supporting head, said hoods also housing portions of the grinding wheel dressing units.

An additional object is to provide novel means for dressing such hooded grinding wheels with the hoods therefor in a down or closed position.

A further object is to provide novelmeans op erable with one hand for looking or elevating the liftable portion of a hood.

The invention in one aspectthereof comprises a pair of supporting heads, each mounted upon a main supporting shaft, the latter rotatably supported in suitable ball or roller bearings. The main supporting shaft and said heads are provided with a passage therethrough for the movement ofthe wire stock which is to undergo grinding. Mounted upon each of the supporting heads is a grinding wheel which is connected to a suitable power means, such as an electric motor, for rotating the grinding wheels and which is positioned for moving planetarily around the wire stock and in operative engagement therewith whereby a grinding and/or polishing operation takes place. {in adjustable. work holding device.

is mounted one upon each rotatable head for asc a n. w t i s res ec ive. grinding wh e whereby the wire stock is maintained in pressure enga ement with the grinding wheel, the work holding device beingadl' stable toward or away from the grinding wheel whereby the wire stock may at all timesbe held in engagement therewith. A rotatable wire stock straightener unit is employed upstream relative to. the grinding and polishing elements; the. straightener comprising a plurality of staggered bars between which the wire stock is led and through (which it is pulled by meansof suitable power means upon a wind-up reel. The plurality of staggered bars is mounted upon a rotatable frame and power meansgare provided for angularly shiftin this in rotation at a desired. speed, whereby, the. wire stc ck is completely straightened prior to engage.- Inentwith the grinding wheels, In order to facilitate the threading of the apparatus, a pair ofpower driven pinch or threading rolls ispositioned upstream relative to the straightener unit, there being provided, at opposite extremities of the apparatus, control means for engagin ord'isengaging the. threading rolls whereby an operator may. initiate the threading operation at the up stream extremity of the apparatus and may follow, the initial end of the. wire therethrough in as lls Same to be, threaded and thereafter maydisengage such pinch rolls atthe downstream extremity of the apparatus when, such end reaches the wind-up reel. Suitable hoods are. provided for each of .therotatablesupporting heads, suchheads being constructedand arranged for shield-.

in f-"the. planetary grinding wheel which. might otherwise prove hazardous to an operator-1 Novel means are provided for dressing such grinding wheels without opening said hoods, such novel means cornprisingadressing tool or. element for; eaol of such wheels, 'such tool or element being secured to a mountingwhich is axially shiftable inthe direction of motion of wirestock, that is,

axially of the grinding wheel In one embodiment of the invention where there are two such grinding wheels employed, there are, of course, two dressing tools and they are operatively associated for simultaneous reciprocative movement whereby both grinding wheels may be simultaneously dressed. Suitable fluid actuated power means are employed for automatically and reciprocatively moving the dressing tools at a desired rate.

Various, further and more specific objects, features and advantages of the invention will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate, by way of example, preferred arrangements of apparatus for carrying out the invention. The invention consists of such novel combinations of features as may be shown and described in connection with the apparatus herein disclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showingv one form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the apparatus shown,

in Fig. l but from the opposite side and with certain portions omitted for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 including a threading means and a rotary straightener unit;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus ShQwnin Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the threading and straightening apparatus shown in Figs. Band 4; Fig. 6 is an end view from the opposite ex-,- tremity relative to that shown in Fig. 5 of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4 Fig. 7 is a detailed side view, partly in section and with parts broken away, of a. pair, of power driven pinch rolls or threading rolls employed in the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section and with parts brokenaway, of the grinding and/or polishing portion of the apparatus shown in Fig.

1, including a main supporting shaft, support--v ing heads and planetarygrinding wheels, together with related parts;

Fig. 10 is a side view, partly in section and with parts broken away, of a hood or protective housing for the rotating planetary grinding wheels;

Fig. 11 is an end viewofthe part shown in Fig. 10;

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are enlarged detailed views.-

Fig. 17 is an end view taken a,,plane.per

pendicuiarto the longitudinal axis of theappareF tusshowing a rotatable head, a grindingwheel and the work support or holdingmember for'urg;

ing the. wire stock against a grindin wheel, said elements being encased within. a hood;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detailed view. inside, 8167M vation ofthe work support member shown-in Fig.

Fig.19 is a sectional view, withparts brok n;

away, taken substantially along line 19-49 of Fig. 18; I

Fig. 20 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale of means for adjusting the work holding member shown in Figs. 17-19;

Fig. 21 is aside elevation of the grinding and polishing portion of the apparatus illustrating the dressing elements for dressing the grinding wheels, said elements being supported on suitable reciprocative mountings, there also being illustrated automatic means for reciprocatively move ing said dressing elements;

'Fig. 21a is a schematic representation of the.

power means for reciprocatively moving said dressing elements;

Fig. 22 is a detailed view on an enlargedscale of a portion of the housing for said rotating supporting head illustrating the reoiprocative mounting means for said dressing tool in relation to the housing;

Fig. 23 is a transverse view, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 22, illustrating the position of a dressing tool and the means for directing a, coolant fluid thereupon;

Fig. 24 is a side elevation of a portion of the masking means for a dressing element, such means permitting a mounting for a dressing tool to extend movably into a housing for the rotating supporting head without the danger of loss of a coolant fluid;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view in plan taken substantially on line 25-45 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 illustrates several slidable plates which are employed in the masking means shown in Figs. 24 and 25;

Fig. 27 illustrates a reel employed in the present invention on which the wire is wound after being ground by the present device; and

Fig. 28 is an end view of the reel shown in Fig. 27.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2', the apparatus is constituted in general by a feed and and is constituted by a so-called removable car-- bide drawing die portion 35a which can be easily removed to accommodate wires of different diameters.

The die or guide 35 serves a purpose not only of a guide to facilitate the movement of the wire stock into the machine but also of steadying the wire to prevent a whip action thereof-from disturbing the wires entrance into the device, such whip action normally occurring due to rapid unwinding from drum 33a.

In threading the apparatus it is desirable to have some easily controlled means which can forcefully urge the wire stock from the unwinding drum 33a and through the apparatus. Such means are shown in detail in one form thereof in Figs. 1 and 7. Such means are designated threading rolls or pinch rolls as at 36 and 3'! (Fig. '7). These rolls are respectively grooved peripherally at 36a and 31a, respectively.

The planes of, rotation of the pinch rolls 36' and.

3'! are in vertical alignment in a common plane.-

whereby the grooves 36a and 31a are positioned for grasping the wire stock and pulling same through the guide or die 35a during, for. example, the threading of the apparatus.

Suitable power means are provided for rotating;

at least one of the pinch rolls 36 and 37, such means being illustrated as at 38 (Fig. 1) and con- I stituting an electric motor, for example, of l H. P., 25 cycle A. 0., capable of 1500 R. P. M. The

motor 38 is operatively associated with a shaft 39, uponwhich the roll 37 is secured, through the intermediary of a reduction gear 40 and a suitable sprocket chain as at M which passes over suitable sprocket wheels 42 and 43, respectively secured to the output shaft of the reduction gear 40 and the shaft 39.

p The pinch roll assembly or pinch roll unit generally indicated as at (Figs 1, 2) and may be either one of two types, namely, manually controlled or pneumatically controlled. That is, thepinch rolls 36 and 31 may be operatively associated with one another in wire stock grasping.

relationship by hydraulically controlled or manually controlled means. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the pinch rolls 3% and 3! are urged toward and away from one another under the influence of suitable fluid actuated power means. In the form shownin Fig. 7, a manual device is shown for controlling the movementof these rolls toward .1

and away from one another.

If desired, of course, both types of control of the pinch-rolls may simultaneouslybe employed as indicated in Fig. 4 as will be described hereina ter.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, the shaftiifi of the pinch roll 31 is journaled in a suitable bearing 45 which is secured to a frame portion of thea'apparatus as at 46. The pinch roll 36, on the other hand, is mounted upon a so-called pinch roll idler arm as at 41. In this embodiment the pinch roll 36 is of the so-called idler variety and has no power directly communicated to its shaft. The pinchroll idler arm 47 is in the nature of a bell crank having arms 47a and 41b. The pinch r011 36 is mounted upon such idler arm as at 48 through the intermediary of an eccentric 49 Y which is under the influence and which is angu-u larly shiftable by a'handle 50 secured to a shaft 5!, the latter supporting said eccentric 49 and having the latter secured thereto. It will be seen that by angularly shifting the handle .5l1 the the influence of a spring 52 which is associated therewith by means of a bolt 53 which is pivoted as at 5 E to such arm 41b.) The spring 52 bears at opposite extremities thereof, respectively,-

against theframe member 46 and-a washer 54 wh1ch is held in place upon the bolt 53 by means of an adjustable nut 55. The extent of the angular motion of the handle5n is determined by the location of a pair of limit-stops or limit-stop pins as atfifi and 51 which cooperate with a finger 58 ggiich is rigidly secured to a hub 50a of the handle The compression'of the spring 52 is so adjusted" by the nut 55 that there is substantial pressure downwardly upon the pinch roll 36 when the finger 58 is in the position shown in Fig. 7. Thus the .wire stock 34 is firmly grasped between-the pinch rolls and .urged to the 'right'as viewed in h s-fi ure- When the handleiiifl andthe fingers-58' areamovedtclockwiserlFig; 7) to the:point-where finger. 5.8:contacts-the stop. pin 51 thespring 52' will;no-. longer be under. compression and there will be no positive gripping by said pinch rolls of, the=wire stock. 34;

The .lower extremity of arm 41a is, of course, pivotally secured insuitable pillow blocks as at 58;.thelatter being secured tothe frame member 45 When the apparatus isbeing loaded, that is,

when the wirev stock is being threadedthere'- through, its is desirableto be able toemploy remote-control means for the pinch rolls 36 and 31- whereby. the actuating pressure thereupon may be ea'sllyngovernedlremotely relative thereto; that is, whereby the pressure of roll 36 acting'toward roll 31': may besocontrolled. In theform shown in Figuhelementsof which are also shown in Figs.

3-:andz4;athexouter extremity-of idler arm 41b in--- stead .of'rbeingoperatively associated with a spring:

means, asat. 52, is under theinfiuence of a fluid actuatedpower cylinder which may becontrolled' Such a fluid actuated by suitable hand valves.

power-cylinder is'shown as at 60 (Fig; 4'). The

bolt 53; shown in Fig. 7, hasa counterpart therefor asat 6| in Fig; 4 comprising a -piston rodof the power cylinder- 60, such piston rodbeing pivotally associated as at 62'with the outer ex-- tremity. of the idler armflb.

The fluid actuated power cylinder 80;: for: ex-- ample,- may be under the influence of airpressure ascontrolled by a-hand operated valve 63 (Fig; 1)

Air. under pressure is conducted to said valve 63- of. thezxpinchrolls upon the wire stock may be finelyicontrolled. Thusan operator of a machine may-initiate the threading of the wire stock- 34 bysactuatingzthevalve. Bland when the machine hasvbeen-fully threadediand'such operator has followed the end thereof'to' theleft, as viewed in Fizzl, downztothe reel'unit- 33, the operator can. thereafter shutoff-or arrest the operation of the-'- pinch roll unitMaby actuating the valve 66; where-- bylitherforce-urging such rolls together is withdrawn;

1 Aftenthezwire-stock haspassed through the- Dinch-rollnnitM, it'is thereafter directed through astraightener-unitindicated generally at 61 and bestrshown in Figs. 3 and 4. The straightener unit-consists in'general of:a plurality of staggered straightener bars as at 68;. 69, Hi and H. These straightener bars.68--TI; inclusive, are positioned toiorm two. slightbends in the wire stock 34-as at 3!w;and 34b when such stock is pulled therethrough bythereelingrunitfl. The straightener bars are mounted,upon, a. rotatable carriage. 12 which is journaled as at 13 and 74 in suitable supports 15 andclfisthe lattertwo supports in turn resting upon. a ;.table;or;supportingframe- 11.

. [Ithastraightener carriage. I2; with the bars 58 -1 lsecured ,thereto; is; rotatable .separately by 381 18 .015. astraightenerimotor as at I8. through h iatermedieryzoi suitable belts as at. 'la whichpass over a1.pulley 80. secured; to; a... shaftof the; motor 18 and over a suitable pulley 8| whichentbraces aportion of the. carriage". Themotor 18', for example, may be of 3 H. P., 25. cycleA. C. and capable of 1500 R. P. M. As is shown in Fig. .6, thepulleys 80.and 8| are-approximately of the same diameterand consequently the carriage 72: isrotated at. a speed substantially equal to: that of; the straightener motor 18.

In view: of the rapid angular velocity of the straightener-bars 6841, inclusive, and inviewoi the axial speed of the wire stock. 34,- ity is desirable to lubricate the latter'prior to its engagement by the straightener bars 68-. As isbest shown in Fig. 4, suitable downstream, and upstream guides. as.at.82 and. 83. are provided; at opposite extremities'of the straightener unitrior. facilitating. the entry andexit of thewire stock; Such guides. are inthe formof rings having, suit-:- able central bores therein as at 82a and. 83, respectively, for this purpose. It has been found desirable to direct the lubricating fluid: tothe, wire stockt l asit passes through the guide.82a and for this purpose an oilcup 84 is mounted; about the guide 82;and connected theretoby a conduit: 85. The fiowof lubricant to thewire stock can be controlled in, any suitable manner. asby a. regulating valve (not shown) in the con.- duit;85: or by suitable wick means;

The lubricant thus applied to the wire stock. will largely be scraped therefrom by means of the rotating staggered. bars 68-7! and will fall intov an inclined oil pan shown. as at. 86;.thelatter having an outlet as at 87 for directingthe'lubrlcant into a pail as at 88.

The wire stock. thereafter passes throughthe grinding unit 3| which, is shown in section in. Fig. 9.

In the form shown the grindingunit is,constituted by a main supporting frame or pedestal? 89 having, as viewed in Fig. 9, a righthand. and lefthandshelf portion indicated respectively; at 8911 and 89b.

Supported by the framemember 89, in ball. bearings as .at 90 and SI, in a main supporting shaft 92 having, a central boretherethrough as at 93 for the passage of the wire stock 34. The main shaft 92 is heldlfirmly against axial dis-.- placement byvirtue of the ball'bearings- 90.311111 9| being mounted adjacent shoulders 92a and: 921), respectively, formed upon said shaft. The. opposite or outer races of said ball. bearings engage suitable fixed shoulders formedin afixed sleeve 920,.the latter being firmly securedto the frame 89. On the main shaft 92there are sup.- ported, on opposite extremities thereof, as; atv 94 and 95, so-called supporting heads or rotating heads. These elements 94 and' 95: provide support for. the planetary grinding Wheels abovementioned. which are hereinindicated at 96 and 91, respectively, that is, they are; associated respectively with the supporting heads. 94 and95; Wheel ,96' may be for roughing? and wheel 97 for finishing the wire stock.

The grinding wheels 961and.9fl are secured to suitable shafts, 9.8 and 99,- respectively; said shafts comprising therotor shafts'of grinding wheel motors I 00 and I 01 respectively.

The grinding wheels 98- and 91 may be, forexample, 9 inches in diameter with a face-oi about 8' inches. Said grinding wheels'are co-- axial, together with the motors therefor, in such a manner thatthe faces thereof are in operative or grindin association with the wire stock 34 3 which passes centrally through the'main shaft 92.

It will, of course, be understood that the motors I and I 0| are mounted in suitable recess in the supporting heads 94 and and if it is desired, said motors I00 and IOI may be radially shifted in small amounts in order to move their respective grinding wheels toward the wire stock, such movement normally being necessary in order to adjust for wearing of the grinding wheels. Such radial movement may be accomplished by any suitable means, for example, by means of suitable radial adjustment screws I02 and I03, respectively associated with the-motors I00 and IN. The recesses in the headset and 95 for receiving such motors are constructed and arranged to permit such radial adjustment of these motors.

The main shaft 92 is rotated by suitablepower means, such as an electric motor I02 (Figs. 9 and by means of a sprocket chain I05 which passes over a motor pulley I80 and a main shaft pulley I07.

The main shaft power motor I04 is preferably of about 5 H. P., being driven by D. C. and capable of speeds between about 500 and 1500 R. P. M.

Power is communicated to the grinder wheel motors I00 and I III by separate collector rings I08 and I00 respectively (Fig. 9), the former being shown in greater detail in Fig. 16.-

As shown in Fig. 9, it will be seen that the rotating heads 04 and 05 are provided with in -wa'rdly extending sleeve portions 04d and 05a,

respectively, which embrace the portions of the main supporting shaft 92 which extend outwardly from the portion of the pedestal 82) which embraces same. The collector rings I08 and I09 are respectively mounted not upon the main shaft 92 proper but instead upon the sleeve portions 94a and 95a, respectively, as is well shown in Fig. 9, whereby removal of a head as at 94 will also remove the related collector ring I08.

Referring now to Fig. 16 it will be seen that the collector ring I08 is constituted by three separate subsidiary rings I08a, ItBb and I080. These rings convey, for example, three phase alternating current'to the grinder wheel motor I00, it being understood that an analogous arrangement is provided for the grinder motor If by means of the collector ring I09. Each of the subsidiary collector rings I08a, I081), and I080 is insulated one from the other and the group is suitably insulated from the head sleeve portion Suitable brushes for the collector rings above described are indicated in Fig. 15 at H0, II I and H2, such brushes being held by suitable conventional means, preferably in angularly separate positions as shown.

In view of the rapid rotation of the supporting heads 94 and 05, thereby imparting. a. planetary motion to the grinding wheels 90 and 91, it is necessary to have suitable housings over portions of said heads and grinding wheels, and as best shown in Fig. 9 such housings are respectively indicated at H3 and Hi. For example, considering housing H3 it will be seen that it is supported upon the shelf 09a, of the frame or pedestal 89 and that it envelopes a portion of the head 94 and covers entirely the orbit of the planetarily moving grinding wheel 95. Upon the supporting head 94 there is provided a flange as at 94b which is adapted for cooperating with an inwardly extending flange II3a of housing I I3; Head 95 and housing IIG are similarly flanged,

Each of the housings are divided into halves 10 along a horizontal plane and the upper half is hinged at I I5 to the lower one and removably secured thereto by a suitable latch as is bestshown at II6inFig.17. I

'Inthe roughing and finishing of the wire stock 3'6 it may be desirable to direct a coolant or lubricant fluid onto same, that is, while being acted upon by the grinding wheel. In order to provide safety and to prevent a loss of or splashing about of such coolant or lubricant, the housings-I I3 and Hi are provided. Thus said housings serve notonly to reduce the safety hazardresulting from the rotating grinding wheels but also to aid in recovering the lubricant or coolant fluid. Also the lubricant fluid is prevented from escaping from the housings by a suitable vacuum forming device, such as that shown at II! and I I8, respectively, for the housings II3 and H4. These vacuum devices are pumps which act as exhaust fans for their respective housings to maintain same under a negative pressure thereby inhibiting the escape of the coolant or lubricant fluid. Each of the exhaust fansor pumps I II and I I8 is powered by a separate motor shownrespectively as at H9 and I20. The exhaust pumps III and H8 are respectively connected to their housings by conduits [2i and I22.

As is best shown in Figs. 9 and 17-20, inclusive, means are provided for urging the wire'stock into operative engagement with each of the grinding wheels and 9?, the means shown in Figs. 17-20 being so employed with the grinding wheel 96. Such means are generally designated as an adjustable work holder or work rest and is indicated at I 23 (Fig. 19). The work holder is mounted upon a bracket 54b which in turn is secured to the outer face-of the supporting head 94 by suitable bolts 940. The bracket 94b extends substantially perpendicular to the face'of the head 04 and has secured thereto a back-up bar I24 having a, face I25 against which the wire stock 34 is urged. The-back-up bar IZ I-is held between a portion 94d of the bracket S Ib-and supporting fingers I 26, the latter being secured by bolts I2? to bracket 951) at opposite extremities of the peripheryof the grinding wheel 96.

The face I25 of the backup bar I24 is substantially parallel to and spaced from a plane passing through the axis of the grinding wheel 96 and of the main shaft 92, the'distancebetween said face and said planet-bein approximately equal to one-half of the diameter of the Wire stock 34 whereby the axis of the latter will, in norm'aloporation, be substantially coaxial with that of the main supporting shaft 92. Consequently the wire stock 34 will remain substantially coaxial with the supporting head 9d.

,A so-calledpressure bar I28 also comprises a portion of the work holder I23 and tends to urge the wire stock into pressure engagement with the grinding wheel 96. The pressure bar I28 is longitudinally or axially shiftable within a channel I29, the latter being formed by a pair o fguide plates I30 and I3I whichare held in spaced relationship by a spacing block I32. Said guide 0 members and spacing block may be held to the bracket 94b as by bolts I32=a. Secured to the lower face of the pressure bar I28 (Fig. 19) there is preferably a so-called wear plate I33 which is directly in contact with the wire stock 34 and which preferably is of a length greater than the length of the face of the grinding wheel 96 whereby the wire stock is or will be urged against the wheel 96 regardless of the longitudinalposi- I tion' o'f'the pressure bar I28.

.1.1 The pressure 'bar I28 isheIdinrthe rchannel -I29.for longitudinal movement therein by. means of apairof retaining-screws I34 WhiCh-aI'GZSCIBW threaded into the bar I28 and which aremovable within 'a slot .I32b formed in .the spacing block 432. .The pressurebar I28 is resiliently urged 'wedge'structure, said bar itself being inthe form ofa wedga'the uppersface thereof I 28a, as viewed in Fig.l8,'a-cting upon-thelower edge I320 of the ;spacing:block I32. The latter is slightly tilted relative to the :axis ofthe main shaft 92 and the tadJacentifaceofthe spacing bar I28 is thus simi- .ilarly :tllted whereby longitudinal movement of bar I28 will urge the wear plate I 33 toward or :awayirom the grinding wheel 96. Anarm I281) 10! the pressure :b'ar I28 extends to the right :thereof .as viewed in :Fig. 18 and has secured xtheretoan adjustment disc which is shown in "detail.inFlg.20,"such:discs being indicated at I38 ,an'dbeingprovided with acentral passage 138a.

By axially'shiftingthe disc I38, it is, of course, possible to move the pressure bar I28 toward-or away "from the grinding wheel 96. Suitable :means .are provided forso controlling the disc 7138 :consistingof a :manuallycontrolled knob I39 having .a threaded shaft .I40 extending therethrough which is provided at one extremity thereof with a grooved portion .I4I for engaging opposite faces of the disc I38 adjacent the periphery thereof. The grooved portion MI is uaxiallyshifltable in a track I42 -which is rigidly .zheldupon a suitable support ,-:as'tat I43 .(Fig. .9), the latter-comprisingsa bracketrsecured toa shelf .of ithe pedestal-89. .The threaded shaft or-bolt M .is thus restrained from .rotation by means of track I-42 and by adjustment of the .knob I39 .it will be evident that the axial position of the --disc I38 may'becontrolled whereby the wedging action of'the pressure bar I28 in turn 'may be controlled for'urgingthe pressure bar. against the wire stock as desired.

Referring .now to Figs. 10-14, inclusive, the

.novel toggle latch device will:now be described which is adapted for holding the upper half :of the housing, such as H 4, in place over the lower .half thereof. -Su'ch toggle latch has above been designatedigenera-llyat I'I6 (Fig. .17) and is con- ;sti-tuted by a handle portion I44 which .may be grasped by the hand and thrust upwardly where- -.by the-latch may be opened. The latch, in general,.is rmade up 'of primary arms I45, I45a and secondary arms I46 and I41. The first pair of arms 'I45-and 14511 is pivotally-associated with a .pin 148, the latter :being j'ournaled in a suitable bracket I49 andsecured to the upper half "I I4a of the housing H4. The lower extremities of said arms I45 and I45a (Fig. 12) have a pivot pin .passing .therethrough as at I50 upon which is pivotally .mounted substantially at the .midpoints thereof the above-mentioned secondary am 146, I41. The arms :I-45, 145a are preferably rigidly held together by meansof a cross-arm .I I

12 which isesecured'ithereto near the pin I50. A toggle :roll I52 :is pivotally secured to the .upper extremitiesof the :arms I46, .I41 (Fig. I2) and said .rolliis adapted .for .coacting with :a hook member vI53'which .is secured to the lower half I Nb of theJhOusing 'I I4.

As is best shown in Figs. 13 and 14,.a line .extending from the axis of the pin I48 to that of the pin I passes .to the left of the center line of the toggle :roll I52 when the latter is in the position shown;in:Fig. 13, thereby insuring a toggleaction and a closure of the two halves :of the housing.

Whenitis-desired to-open the .housing II4, it is not necessary to-employ two hands but only one and an operator may quickly grasp the handle I44 and thrust same upwardly to the position shownin Fig. 14, thereupon the upper .half I I I4a of-thehousing II4 may belifted .from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 10 to that shown in broken lines wherein it rests upon aresilient .limitestop II 4c which is secured to a suitable rigid portion ofthe frame .of the apparatus.

Novel dressing means are provided fordressing each of the grinding wheels 96 and 91 after they .have become worn as aresult of contact with the wire stock. Suchmeans are shown in Figs. 21-23, inclusive, with portions thereof being shown in Figs. 24-26.

Dressing tool means, for example, used for the grinding wheel 96, is "shown in Fig. 23.and is constitued by a dressing material, such as a dressing diamond indicated .at I which is mounted rigidlyupon a suitable dressing material .holder I6I, thecombined-elements I60 and IBI normally being -referred to .as the .dressing element proper, suchelement being indicated-at .I-62. A dressing elementadapter is provided at I63.for (holding the dressingelement I6.2.upon ashaft I64 whichis secured for.reciprocative. movement .outside of the housing I13 ina mounting indicated generally at I65, said shaft .I64 extending into thehousing .I.I3 through agland structure indicated generally at I66. LElementsISO, I6I, I63 and I64 normally are referred .to asa dressing tool. 'The shaft 'I'64is .rigidly grasped and .held .by a tool shaft holder I61. .Theshaft I64 is provided with a central passagetherethrough as at I68 through which .a coolant or .lubricantiluid .is directed from afiexible conduit I69. .The tool shaft holder I I 61 is secured to .a longitudinallyreciprocativemounting I10 by means .of suitable retaining bolts as at 'I'1I. The reciprocati-ve mounting I10 is slidable from .left toright, as viewed in.Fi'g..22, or axially of the direction of movement of the wire stock by virtue .ofa dovetail interconnection at I12 with a .fixed bracket I13 which is secured to the pedestal 89 byany suitable means. The tool may be shifted axially toward or away from the grinding wheel 96 by means of a hand adjustment wheel I14 whichis provided "with a threaded portion within .the

'mounting I 10, angular motion of the wheel will modated by an elongated .slot in such housing as indicated at I15 (Fig. 23))" A coextensive slot Ififia is provided in cover member I66. In I order to prevent the loss of a coolant fluid through this slot as the shaft I64 is so shifted therein axially, slot masking means are employed comprising a series of superposed elongated slotted plates as shown in Fig. 26 at I16, I71 and 118, such plates being of gradually diminishing length and the slots therein also being of gradually diminishing length, plate I18 having its slot in the form of a circular opening which embraces closely the shaft IBM The elongated plates II6-II8 are superposed one upon the other with plate I'It adjacent the housing H3 and plate Ii'l interposed between it and plate I18, the assembled plates being urged together and toward the housing Us by means of a-coil spring indicated at I19 (Figs. 23 and 25).

The slots in the elongated plates 'IIE-I'Iil are so arranged as to dimension that regardless of the position of the shaft I64 inthe slot I15 there will be no substantial opening which will permit the escape of the coolant fluid. I It will be understood that an analogous dressing unit is provided for the grinding wheel 91 identical to that described in connection with Fig. 23.

A passage may beformed asat 'I I (Fig. 23) I in housing member H311 to permit return into 1 the housing of fluid which collects in member I68.

In order to speed-up the operation of the apparatus and in order to avoid the necessity for having to dress the grinding wheels by opening the hoodsI I3 and H4 therefor, the dressing tools have. beenso positioned to extend through :the lower halves of their'respective housings. The dressing' tools are jointly reciprocated by means of an airdraulic or air actuated double actingpowercylinder device "as best shown in Figs. 21 and 21a and indicated generally at I86. Referring particularly. to-LFig. 2111., the

vdouble actingipower cylinder device is of the so-called oilcontrolled variety having a central partition IIlI which is interposed between pistons 582 and M3, respectively,-on the, right and left sides thereof. :In chambers I84 and 85 formed by said partition and cylinders, a suitable control fluid'such as oil: is situated and. it will be evident that by controllingthefiow: of oil through a passage as at I86 in the "central partition IBI-,. the speed of axial. movement of the pistons I182 and I83 can be controlled. The latter pistonsare secured to a suitable piston rod I8! which extends through the central par- I tition I8! and. is axially movable therethrough.

The opposite extremities of the piston rod I81 are secured: to .llhB reciprocativelyf mounted dressing tools as atiBB and I89, respectively.

It is clear that by manual control ofa handle I9I it is possibleto move both of .theydre'ssing tools simultaneously to the left or to-theright in a controlled manner by virtue of theipower cylinder means I353 of Fig. 21a and its valve control and oil chamber control element. I

The reciprocative movement of the power cylinder Ifiiiyis under the influence of a so-called four-way hand-operated valve I99 having .a

handle iElI. this valve via a conduit I92. Such air is in turn directed either to theright or to the left extremity of the power cylinder I as viewed located between the: pistons i5; and I83, are

Air under pressure is directed to filled with oil.- By controlling the speed with which this oil can be passed fromone of these chambers to the other, it is clear that 'th'e-axial speed of the piston I87 can be controlled. A speed control valve is provided formete'ring the oil through said passage I86 comprising a valve element I860: which may be adjusted in angular position by means ofanadjustment nut 18611.

There may be some leakage or dissipation of the oil in the chambers I 84 and I85 and it'has been found'desirable toprovidea'so-called automatic oil filler device indicated generally at I and consisting of a piston member I96 which is slidable ina suitable bore in the device- I95 and which is under the influence of the air in.

the conduit I54, via conduit I95a, which air urges said piston downwardly as viewd in Fig. 21a. Oil is located in a chamber I91 "of the oil filler device and by means of an orifice as at I 98 can move into a chamber directly beneath the piston I96. Whenever there is a diminishingbf the volume of oil in said chambers I84,1I85',. the piston i 96 can urge oil down into one'of saidi chambers, for example, I85, by way of a ball check valve-indicated at I99.

It will be evident from the above 'that'=-by manual control of the valve I 90, by means of handle 59!, and also by-adjusting the speed control valve IBEa, Itiibyit ispossible' to govern the reciprocative movement of the piston I81 and (Fig.23) it was mentioned above that a' flexible conduit I39 is connected with a central bore in the tool shaft IE4. An arcuate conduit, as at IBM, directs such fluid from the central bore I38 and into the region of contact of the dressing materialand the grinding wheel. As is best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 21,:with particular reference to the latter, a centrally controlled system is employed forfeedin'g the coolant or grinding fluidto the apparatus, the same soluticn being employed for dressing the grinding wheels as'is employed for lubricatin the wire stock 35. As-shown in Fig. 21, an inlet-conduit 200 directs such grinding "fluid via a selective main control valve 2m selectively to: (a) .a conduit 202, the opposite extremities of which areincommunication with the flexible'conduits IE9 on-the righthandextremity of the apparatus (Fig. '21) and also to a flexible conduit I691) on the lefthand extremity of the apparatuspthe latter, ofcour-se, directing the'fiuid to the dressing tool 'on such extremity which tool is analogous to that "shown in Fig-.123; '(b) a conduit 2133 whichextends toopposite extremities of the apparatus for the purpose of guiding such fluid to the upper portionsof hoods H3 and iHLresp-ectively} by means of conduitsZM and 265 (Fig. 2), respectively;

The control unit 32above mentionedincludes instruments, for example, asat 206, for indicating wheel speedyZB'l for indicating the ampere's to the rough grinding-wheel-,-and 268for indicating the amperes to the fini-sh grinding wheel. "Suitable knobs as at 209, ZIITandJZ I I areprovidedfor I controlling the speed of. the-grinding wheels and .15 tanni -s ppo tin sha And up a pan as atvZ-IZ a plurality of push buttons (not shown) may be provided-for manual control of the various m ors'o t e app tus.

The reeling vunit 3-3 is constituted by a reeler motor 213 which maybe of 1 /2 H. P., D. C. type, capable of speeds between 500 and 2000 R. P. M. The reeler motor, by means of a suitable sprocket chain a at 2, transmits torque via a suitable reduction-gear 2 l 5 to a reel 2 l 6 which is shown in detail in. Figs. 27 and 28. The reel 216 is rotatably mountedupon a shaftlll, the latter being operatively connected to the motor 2 l 3 as above mentloned.

Areelingzdrum unloading device is provided for the 216 which in general is constituted by an unloading .rod 218 which can be mounted rigidly upon the drum 216 near the periphery thereof. The unloading rod 2l8, when a coil 'of wire is wound upon the drum 216, is moved to the uppermost position in its circular orbit, as shown in Fig.27, whereupon a heavy coil 2l9 of the wire stock 34 can be moved from the drum by virtue of the frusto-conical shape thereof and onto said rod H8. The latter'at this time, of course, is stationary and moved to such position by careful control of the motor 2| 3. The rod2l8 bearing th coil 2!!! thereafter is shifted downwardly by rotating the drumZIE until the coil rests upon a suitable support, for example, a conveyor 220 which can move the coiloif of the unloading rod .2l8.

In the form shown, the unloading rod 2 l8 can be detachably mounted upon the drum 2l6 by means of a sleeve 22l which is supported at opposite extremities thereof at 222 and 223 in the front and rear faces of the drum 216. The sleeve 22! is provided therein with an interiorly threaded block 224 adapted for receiving a threaded extremity 225 of the rod 2|8. A transverse bore 2l8e is provided in the outer end of the. rod 2l8 for the insertion of a suitable tool for tightening and loosening the rod 218 in the threaded block 224. For normal reeling of the wire onto the drum 215, it may be desirable to remove the rod 218 and to mount same. in the sleeve 22!, as shown in Fig. 27, only for the unloading operation.

While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment which has said shaft, there being an axial passage through saidheads and shaft for the wire, each head hav- -ing a grinding wheel mounted thereupon for planetary movement about the wire, each wheel having :power means operativelly associated therewith for rotating same, means for rotating said main shaft; the combination therewith of hood means for housing at least portions of said heads thereby housing the grinding wheels and the. planetary paths thereof; a pair of dressing tools positioned for engaging respective of said grinding, wheels to dress the surfaces thereof when the latter are'heldin a preselected position .:.of the-orbits thereof, meansfor mountingeach of said dressing tools for reciprocative movement axially of said grinding wheels, power cylinder means having a reciprocative piston therein, means for connecting said piston to both of said reciprocatively mounted dressing tools, means for controlling the reciprocative movement of the piston of said powercylinder; a main supply conduit for a grinding solution, conduit means for directing said solution into said hood means and toward the wire undergoing grinding, conduit means for directing said solution onto said dressing tools, and valve means for controlling the flow of said solution selectively into said conduit means.

2. In a continuous wire coil grinding apparatus, the combination with a rotatable grinding wheel, a rotatable head for supporting the grinding wheel, said head having an axial passage therethrough for the wire; means for continuously moving the wire through said passage; 6. feed and straightener unit includin a pair of power driven pinch rolls, means for operating said pinch rolls from opposite extremities of said apparatus, a plurality of staggered straightener bars, and means for rotating said bars about an axis coincident with the axis of the passage through said rotatable head; means for housing said rotatable head for shielding same and the grinding wheel mounted thereon; means for directing a grinding solution into said housing toward the wire undergoing grinding; exhaust pump means in communication with a lower region of said housing means'for creating a vacuum in said housing means whereby the recovery of said grinding solution is facilitated; a second rotatablehead; a second grinding wheel mounted upon the last-mentioned rotatable head and adapted for axial movement about the wire, said last-mentioned rotatable head also having an axial passage therethrough for wire; a pair of dressing tools for dressing the faces of said grinding wheels; means for reciprocatively moving said dressing tools in synchronism and axially of said grinding wheels, such means including a fluid actuated power cylinder having a piston, means for operatively associating both of said dressing tools with said piston, and manually operable means for controlling the reciprocative move- ,ment of said piston.

3. In a grinding and polishing machine, a main rotating shaft having attached thereto a pair of supporting heads, one on each extremity thereof, said main supporting shaft being rotatably supported substantially in the center thereof, each of said supporting heads having an abrasive member rotatably mounted thereupon for revolving movement about wire stock and in operative engagement therewith, the axes of said abrasive members being in alignment, a pair of hood member for housing respective of said supporting heads with the abrasive members mounted thereon, a pair of abrasive wheel dressing tools mounted for simultaneous operative association with said abrasive members when the latter are at a preselected positionin the orbit of their revolving movement, automatic power means for reciprocatively moving said dressing members in coordination axially of said abrasive members whereby the latter are dressed, and means for directing a coolant solution upon said dressing members, said hoods having slots formed therein through which said dressing tools are inserted.

4. In a grinding and polishing machine, the combination with a rotatable supporting head and .an abrasive member operably mounted on .sure member relative to the holding member toward the abrasive member to maintain the work in pressure engagement with said abrasive memher, a pair of pinch rolls for engaging the wire stock prior to the feeding thereof to said abrasive member and said supporting head, power means for rotating said pinch rolls, means for separating said pinch rolls, means for operating said last-mentioned means from opposite extremities of said machine, and a die positioned ahead of said pinch rolls and through which the wire stock must be drawn prior to engagement with said pinch rolls.

5. In a grinding and. polishing machine for wire stock, the combination with a rotatable supporting head and an abrasive wheel rotatably mounted on said head to be revolved thereby about the wire stock in operative engagement therewith, of a work holder comprising a work holdingmember mounted in fixed relationship with the head and in close proximity to the operating surface of the abrasive member to maintain the wire stock against lateral displacement as a result of the action of said abrasive member, a work pressure member mounted in cooperative relation with said work holding member, means for adjusting said pressure member relative to said holding member toward the abrasive member to maintain the wire stock in pressure engagement with said abrasive member, and hood means for housing at least a portion of said head thereby housing the grinding wheel as it moves planetarily, a dressing tool positioned for engaging said abrasive wheel to dress the surface thereof when the latter is held in a preselected position in the orbit thereof, means for mounting said dressing tool for reciprocative movement axially of said wheel, reciprocative power means for axially and reciprocatively moving said tool, a main supply conduit for a grinding solution, conduit means for directing said fluid into said hood means and toward the wire undergoing grinding, conduit means for directing said solution onto said dressing tool, and valve means for controlling the flow of said solution selectively into said conduit means.

6. In a grinding and polishing machine, a supporting head having an axial passage therethrough for wire stock, said passage being of greater diameter than that of said stock, means for rotating said head, means for feeding the wire stock through said opening, means for maintaining the stock in substantially coaxial relationship with said head, an abrasive wheel rotatably mounted upon said head and adapted for rotation therewith planetarily to move about the wire stock, a pair of pinch rolls, and a die positioned for acting upon the wire stock prior to the engagement thereof with said pinch rolls.

WALLACE K. LOWE.

REFERENCES, CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 378,063 Baldwin et al Feb. 14, 1888 1,020,789 Armstrong Mar. 19, 1912 1,350,531 Thacher Aug. 24, 1920 1,714,246 Seibert May 21, 1929 1,984,237 Booth Dec. 25, 1934 2,095,202 Moomaw Oct. 5, 1937 2,178,875 Kearns Nov. 7, 1939 2,459,707 Lewis Jan. 18, 1949 

